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This is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends, not with a small quiet sigh, but with a bang and crash.The first fleets arrived on earth by accident, a millennia ago, assimilating into society in order to best determine whether or not the planet's resources could be allocated to help their species. At first, they fell in love with the simple minded humans who knew nothing of the advanced technology or cures for simple illnesses. They were not to interfere, simply to observe, but the longer they observed, the less they loved. Their attitudes came close to hatred and soon, they determined that the humans were no longer a sentient species but beings set out to destroy both themselves and their planet.

Their mission was clear; erase humanity.

Begin anew.

The stars shone so brightly, they twinkled the same way they had her entire life. It was her fifth birthday when she asked her parents to have a camp out in the yard with her friends. Her parents were happy to oblige and so that night, they had set up a tent, they dug a hole for a fire and roasted hot dogs and smores. They told stories around the camp fire, spinning tails of lizard men and creatures that lurked in the woods just beyond the fence. The children went to sleep contentedly in their sleeping bags, unaware of what lay just beyond those wooden posts. It was around midnight when the creaking began, the stalks torn up, one by one, creatures snaking through the long grass, their humanoid forms shiny and far too beautiful to ever truly be human. They plucked the children from their beds, silencing their screams, sending them into a deep sleep.

Alerted by their screams, the parents ran out, only to find the campsite trampled, ransacked, the children gone. For years they searched, prayed, hoped, but alas, they had never returned.

How did the children disappear? There was evidence of what appeared to be a large meat eating creature, but their bodies were never found. Not a speck of clothing nor a piece of hair was ever recovered from the scene of the incident. The pieces didn't add up, but with no trails to go on, the police declared them dead and closed the case. This was especially strange when ten years later, there was evidence that they had been spotted in various places across the world. Emissaries, their time had come at last to awaken and begin the end.

One by one, the children received their message and pulled through in their final task, the world spiraling into chaos as fleets from the sky began to attack. Even with the might of the entire Earth's military, they were no match for the technology the extra terrestrials brought with them. One by one, the nations collapsed, chaos ensuing as radioactive detonators began to mutate the survivors. The aliens began to colonize the planet, rounding up what little humans remained to use them as slaves in order to rehabilitate the remaining land. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, one path leading to freedom, the other to an eternity of slavery. Humans had grown used to the cacophonous self reliance of internet orders and disassociation in their day to day lives. Humans are not used to work, they are not used to getting their hands dirty or laying in a dirt field to dig for whatever scraps of food might remain. They grew content and lazy, they allowed machines to work for them, they thought too much of celebrities and little of the earth that was wasting away at their own behest. It had led to their downfall, the terrain now becoming dangerous to traverse. In order to thrive, they will need to adapt, to learn to survive like their ancestors before them and rely on themselves in a place where every creature is out to get them. Only the strong will survive.

These poor, unfortunate souls were once a part of this great world, but have been abandoned. Why don't you consider viewing their profiles and making a decision on whether or not you can roleplay them accurately?

Footnotes

"Pariya, you did it!" Kyo screamed, ecstatic. Up they went, nearly out of the forest. Jake and Romo, they would need to find a way to free them next, but Kyo believed that they could do it. Maybe they could enlist the help of another of those human colonies? No, no doubt they would think the two off them mad for wanting to help free their friends. What would Jake do? No doubt he would tell Kyo to get as far away from here as possible, to not come back for him because he could take care of himself. Kyo swallowed hard, she wasn't going to listen of course, but it was a nice sentiment. "Pariya, how long do you think you can hold onto this form?" She needed an estimate so as to know when she had to brace for landing. "They're going to be on our tails soon," Thirteen would not be happy when he realized that they had gotten away. If those two aliens weren't dead, then they would be once he returned.

"Pariya, I'm gonna leave my body for a second to make sure we aren't being followed-" blood splattered out of her mouth and onto Pariya's cheek. Kyo twisted her head to look down, a long chain with a hook on the end embedded through her middle. "Pariya, keep flying." Kyo coughed, blood flowing from her lips. "Take Veronica and don't look back." Kyo was useless, she was dead weight. Her grip was slipping, her eyes widened as another hook was shot out, then another. "Look out!" Kyo screamed, throwing out an arm. She cried out in pain as it sliced through, her arm falling, falling, lost somewhere in the forest. "I can't hold on," the hook tugged at her, pulling her down. She was slipping, blood everywhere, her mind spinning.

"Please Pariya, get away, save Veronica, save Jake and Romo." Her last finger lost its grip on her friend and she began to tumble downwards towards the earth, plummeting at a mile a minute. She could see him from here, Thirteen, arms crossed, clearly displeased. He was going to punish her for this, more so than he already had. Losing her arm was a big deal. As an archer and an artist, Kyo needed both hands to perform. Now she had one and she doubted her Master would reattach her other one unless she sat in the dirt, bleeding and groveling.

Stupid, Kyo was so stupid. They weren't just going to let Pariya get away, her friend was going to have to fight if she wanted to survive.

Somehow, Pariya did it. She did not understand what was happening, this whole situation was utterly alien to her! Pariya looked around, more confused than anything but she knew she needed to get out, that this was an emergency. "Kiki, I have no idea what's going on!" This was the first time she was ever actually awake to really see her power. She didn't get it, even as they flew above the canopy it made no sense. The plan was to get away, then to go back for the others. With Kiyo, anything was possible! That was the plan until suddenly Kiyo was hurt because Pariya wasn't able to dodge right. It was just like everyone said, she was dumb and failed everything.

"But Kiki, I'm not smart. I can't do it without a smart person helping me." She was very aware of the irregularity in her head and that she needed someone smarter to guide her and help her. Why do you think she and Romo got along so well? He was her guide and now Kiki was supposed to be. "I need you!" She cut through one of the hooks and tried to swerve left to dodge another but it wasn't working, this Thirteen jerk only knew how to be mean! This wasn't right! Kiki let go but Pariya had a better idea, one that wouldn't mean abandoning someone.

"Did you know, Kiki?" Pariya whispered to herself mostly, eyes brimming with tears. "I have a dream! I want to make beautiful poems to your pictures, Kiki! My dream can't come true without you!" She would do it, she would save Kiki! Because the truth was, even if Riya was stupid and not good at anything, she was also very strong. And now that her head was on half straight, maybe a miracle could happen. So Kiki was tumbling, tumbling, and Riya flew at full speed - not at Kiki, but at the big enemy. "Pariya, kill Thirteen. Kill him and save us all!" Varsu pleaded in her head, she still was there, playing the strings from behind. "Of course! I'm super strong!"

Five seconds to impact.

Four.

Sweeping past Kiki, Riya would land on Thirteen first!

Three.

Tw-

An incredible force and pain and then Riya could not see anymore, everything went blank and empty but she felt blood and felt that it wasn't hers that splashed on her.

Footnotes

She was going to hit her neck from this angle, but maybe, if she did, Thirteen wouldn't be able to revive her. Kyo closed her eyes, waiting for impact. She didn't hold her breath, she embraced death with open arms, er-arm. Thirteen watched it all unfold, the girl with the strange wings and stupid pink hair zooming towards him. It was easy to reach into the emotions of those around him, he stepped out of the way while someone else took his place. Xalia, Thirteen believed she was called. Not that he cared, they were all disposable. Why wouldn't they be? There were dozens, just like them.

"Igor, you know what to do." Igor nodded, casting a telekinetic net to stop his pet from hitting the ground. "Clean this mess up, this hunt is over." He yanked her down, Kyo opening one eye, then the other. "Pathetic, can't even make a proper escape attempt." Kyo coughed, spattering blood in his face with a smug grin. "You won't save me this time. There's no one here to heal me." Thirteen remained composed as he looked around, summoning another of his troop. "Do it," time froze, but not for everyone else, just Kyo. Stuck, blood was mid trickle from the stump where her arm had previously hung. "Take that one too, I'm interested in her stupidity. I'm sure the Queen will be as well." They hustled about, removing the entangled Pariya and Xalia. "What about Xalin's sister, your highness?"

"Xalia died in an unfortunate encounter with the humans." Pariya too, was frozen, the two of them whisked away to the containment truck meant for the humans. Thirteen drove his car back, glowering the entire time. He screeched to a stop along the road, flinging the car door open to collect the lone arm on the side of the road, having one of the aliens freeze it so that it would still be viable later on. It seemed that after all this time, his pet was still trying to escape. Fine, he was just going to make this game of cat and mouse even harder. Thirteen licked his lips, knowing that he had to change his angle and change it he would.

Time unfroze when they arrived at the castle. Kyo gasped for air, blood spilling between her lips. The hole in her abdomen was wide, a clean break through to the other side. "Thirteen, what is the meaning of this?" Eleven inquired, tossing pink hair over her shoulder. She narrowed her eyes at the sight of the party returning. "An encounter with the humans, they were were savages, to the likes of which I've never seen before." Thirteen lied smoothly, he dumped the block of ice wit the arm in it to her, Eleven nearly dropping the slippery icicle. "Do something with this, would you?"

"Thirteen? Thirteen, halt! As your future Queen, I command you to stop!" He laughed, continuing inside. Eleven held the ice block carefully, gingerly stepping around the blood to where Kyo and Pariya were being held up. "Kill me," Kyo whispered, "Please, make him stop." Eleven shook her head, "You are the object of his infatuation. You could very well be his downfall," Eleven smiled, handing the ice block to someone else. She wasn't an idiot, she knew her brother was conspiring against her for the title of King. Planet X had been ruled by a monarch for a very long time, but it would be over Eleven's dead body before that changed.

Kyo slumped, realizing that she wasn't going to be released. "Can I see Jake?" She whispered, her head hanging. "If that is your wish, I will grant it." Kyo nodded as she was dragged inside to the far too familiar medical ward. Her head was light, the world began to seem funny. Kyo laughed as she was laid down on a metal table, the blood loss making her eyes spin. A gas mask was pressed against her face and it was no longer funny, Kyo lashed out, kicking and screaming, but the gas was working and darkness took hold.

The closest thing to a memory is watching her capture from the point of view of Xalin and Xilia and their crew. The closest hint to a past was Varsu being taken by the aliens, sacrificing herself to save some other humans who managed to get away. "She's impure." Xalin said as she was cuffed and taken in. "But it's okay, we can make you worth something, child." Past Varsu, maybe a year younger than how she was now, looked very dirty and rough, clawing and scratching with all of her might. Rage was clear in her eyes as she fought. "Let me go!" She screamed, biting and wailing as Xilia strapped her into their hovercraft. "I have to find Pariya!" Varsu could see this scene over and over again in Xalin's head.

...

A strange alien planet, with purple sky and dark cold ground. "Earth is being invaded." Xalin said, looking at his family. He was the head of the Xanivarn family, the aliens who lived on and governed over Planet X, near the outskirts of the solar system. It was a cold harsh, near barren place, but it was their home. " A spear hooked onto the ground, bearing the flag of Planet X. Xilia grinned, eyes wide. "Don't you see, brother? This is our chance! We can show the Lunarians what we're good for, that we deserve better in the Empire!" The Lunarian family ruled the Sol System, and the denizens of all the planets competed under their thumb for favor. "We can show that we deserve more food and grain for our people!" The rulers of each planet, depending on their ranking by the Lunarian family earned supplies and rights for their home planets. The more favored you were, the better. And well, there was a reason why Planet X was so barren and desolate.

"The Xanivarn family will answer the call for attack." Xalin said quietly, looking at his fist. "I hold the Blessing of History, and I'll display what we're worth." It was going to be a long trip though, but it was also going to be dangerous. He would most likely have to take the journey alone to fulfill the call to arms from the Queen. A hand on his shoulder, a confident smile. "We won't send a weakling like you there alone. I'll go with you, big bro!" Xilia grinned, flexing her arms, tall and strong like she was. "That way you won't have to be lonely."

...

A whirlwind of turmoil. Desperation and misery was wrapping all about. A vague crying from the artist Xalin as the news was given to him, of the humans killing his sister, killing little Runelle. His head was filled with a sense of wrongness to it. Varsu had probed in, she knew that if something needed to be done it was tme to use her power to its utmost. Losing his sister, what could he do? "It's a lie." Varsu spoke in his mind, trying to reach his innermost thoughts. "I was watching through Runelle's eyes. Thirteen is the one who killed your sister."

"You tried to kill me."

"A silly human like you thought you had the right to hurt me."

"Do it! I'll do it again!"

"Of course. Be prepared for the punishment for your arrogance."

Pariya was scared in this strange dark place. But she had to be strong, she had to be strong and fight to protect Kiyo and make poems for her art again!

Footnotes

She stared numbly up at the ceiling, unmoving, numb as water drained out of the glass tank encasing her. Her arm felt heavy, a row of neat stitches circling it, attaching it back to her body. Or maybe this was an entirely new arm, Kyo wasn't sure. The hole in her stomach too, was gone, shut neatly. "Awake already?" Eleven asked, examining her nails. Where was Thirteen? Shouldn't he be here to torment and mock her? "My brother is attending to other matters," Eleven spoke as though she could read Kyo's mind. Perhaps she could, the child did not know. "My arm," Kyo swallowed hard. "I can't feel it," it was numb despite the stitches, despite their methods; dead weight. "It may or may not take," Eleven held out a shift and robe, which Kyo ungracefully adorned.

"My brother is unusually attached to you."

"I'm dreadfully aware."

"I think you could, perhaps, be his undoing." Two women in white stepped forward to wrap her arm and place it in a sling. Like this the weight was not terrible. She stared at her loose fist, attempting to close it or wiggle her fingers, but they did not respond. "Jake, you promised I would get to see him." Kyo whispered, knowing she was trapped between political pawn and pet. "You will, I always keep my promises." They walked down the corridor, taking so many turns that Kyo's head spun. She had vertigo by the time they arrived at a familiar tall white door, armed and protected with several locks. It took Eleven a minute to open them all, the two of them walking down a narrow hallway until they reached a glass door. Sitting beyond it, stooped in the corner, was a familiar blonde haired boy.

"Jake!" The door hissed open and he lunged, freezing when he saw her in the way. Eleven pushed her inside, the door sliding shut behind them. "Kyo, oh, Kyo, thank goodness." Jake embraced her warmly; he smelled familiarly, the soapy, sterile smell that Kyo would never get out of her mind. "Why are you here? What happened to your arm?" He wanted to know, noting the sling. He held her wrist, but even so, Kyo could not feel it. "It was cut off in an escape attempt. They sewed it back on, but I think it was too late." Her voice was hoarse, an artist and archer no more. "It doesn't matter though, I was always the useless one." Jake shook his head, drawing her close once more. "That's not true, don't be so hard on yourself."

"He's going to kill me Jake."

"I won't let him."

"But he will, it's only a matter of time." She whispered, her voice shaking. "And I think... it will be a mercy." Jake tilted her chin up, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Don't say that, it's not true," he pleaded, "I have a plan. Just hang on a little bit longer. Romo and I are working on it."

"We have to go," Eleven opened the door once again. "The Queen is coming," the two humans stiffened, aware of what being caught together could mean. Instant death for the both of them. "I'll be back, I promise," Kyo whispered, turning back towards the door and leaving him prisoner in the hall of nightmares.

She always had been a screwup. Even when she was doing what she liked to do, like making poems, Pariya was bad. People didn't like being around her because of how weird she was. Once Pariya was wandering around after school because she wanted to explore the town but then she got lost. It was dark and the poor girl was crying because she was confused and stuck in an unfamiliar place. It was nice and a fun adventure when the sun was up but in the dark with all the looming shadows, Xeni was afraid. She was going to die, wasn't she? And no one would miss her because she was stupid and bad, right? A shadow behind her, what could she do? Xeni was afraid so she kept on walking along the scary strange houses and streets and dim lights that didn't reveal enough to make it a happy place.

"Sis, there you are." A voice, a comforting happy voice. Remi was there, she tugged on Xeni's sleeve, it wasn't a monster or a kidnapper, but her little sister! "R-Remi! You found me! I-I was so scared!" The elder sister clung to her super smart and genius little one. "How did you find me?" Remi held her hand and grinned like the true savior she was. "I'll always find you, sis. That's my job, because you're my sister!" And then it hurt a little, even though it was nice to be saved it still hurt because Xeni was stupid but she at least knew that as a big sister, shouldn't it be the other way around? "I'll never let you be alone. Wanna go home?"

Why did Xeni always need to be saved? Why did Remi have to be forced to grow up so fast? "Why do you always save me?" It came out before she could stop it, the feelings of worthlessness were rising. She couldn't ever do anything on her own. She wasn't talented or good at anything. "I'm the big sister, so why can't I take care of you?" Remi shook her head, having already seen this coming. "It doesn't matter who's big or little." Her blonde hair seemed like a warm light in the dark night. "We're sisters, so we'll always be there for each other."

....

"Looks like she passed out for now." Thirteen watched as the punishment for today finished. It was too much for this mentally deficient girl, she didn't know how to handle anything it seemed. How pathetic for someone like her to try to kill him, the future King. "She kept calling out for a 'Remi' to save her, your highness." One of the guards explained, cleaning the blood off of his hands. "Who is that? A strong mutant? Should we be on our guard?" No matter how strong, it would still only just be a human. And Thirteen had no reason to fear a human. He decided not to worry about this Remi person for now.

"This stupid human's sufficiently broken for now." Not even her limbs were attached, she was just a torso and a head now, twitching even as she had passed into unconsciousness. "My pet was friends with her. Perhaps I should let her see her friend so she knows not to become disobedient."

Footnotes

This world was wrong. Kyo's shoulders shook, blood dripped onto the floor, her chest heaved in time with the droplets, a mess of liquids decorating the floor. She tried to turn away, but it felt disrespectful in a way. This was her fault, it was always her fault. "Why?" Kyo's voice trembled and her one available hand balled into a fist, shaking. "Why?" Kyo asked once more, louder this time. Didn't he think that losing her good arm was punishment enough? "It was bemusing, how she begged." Thirteen spoke instead, walking around the table. There was not a fleck of blood on him despite the torture. "Not crying for you or the other humans, but a Rem." Rem? That was Pariya's sister, it only made sense that she would call out to her when scared.

Thirteen grabbed her by the shoulder and steered her away from the room, taking her back towards the room with its window seat and quiet solitude. Lunch waited for them on a table, but Kyo wasn't hungry. "She didn't mean anything, Pariya is harmless." She mumbled, uncertain what this would mean for her friend. The two of them sat at a small table, a spread of food laid out before them. Kyo picked at the elaborate tea time meal, taking sips of ginger-lemon tea and nibbling on bite sized cake. Normally, she would wolf something like this down, but her stomach was turned at the thought of Pariya's blood dripping off of the table. "What is wrong?" Thirteen asked, setting his tea cup down with surprising delicacy. "I don't feel well." Kyo confessed, slinging her arm over her eyes and tilting her head back.

"Is it your hand?" Thirteen inquired, his gaze falling to the one in the sling. That was only partially it. If only he knew how he had hurt her. If only he knew that he had taken away her one useful talent. "The Doctors can fix you, they can make you better again." Thirteen crossed the room, setting a hand on her possessively. "If I ask them, they will walk off a cliff for me." His expression was serious, his gaze set as stone. Kyo shook her head. "It doesn't matter, I was always useless." Thirteen sighed, stroking her hair, his fingers rubbing her ears. "Yes, Kiyoko, you have always been the most wasteful life of the pack. That is why you are her, serving me, where you can be of some use."

His words were not sweet, they were rough, they were grating. The truth hurt. Her heart hurt, but it was important that she hear it. In truth, Thirteen was lying. Kyo's ability was powerful, however, none of their best scientists could figure out the extent of it. They kept her in a sedated daze, allowing her to believe that she was just a toy, putty to be manipulated into the shape of whomever's fingers molded her. Thirteen's hands continued down along her spine, stroking her tail, each stroke giving Kyo a desire to be needed, to be loved by something or someone.

The ability to enter someone’s mind. Some might see it as something overpowered, too strong for a simple mutant to wield. Perhaps that was true – oftentimes Varsu felt as if she could do more than she ought to be able to. It didn’t come without repercussions, though, there were always limitations. By entering someone’s mind, you were forced to feel what they feel whether it’s fear of misery or anger or joy. To make matters worse, migraines strong enough to cripple you always occurred after each mind entering. She could probably only manage it once per day - anything more might kill her or worse…

Varsu did not know where these powers came from. She had no memories of before after all. Who was she? What was her name in the past? All she knew was being given the name Varsu and told to sing by Xalin. It was an odd feeling even back then, knowing that Xalin brainwashed you but also having no way to find out who you once were. Xalin was odd – different from other aliens. He wasn’t cruel, but he wasn’t kind either. “The truest art must be suffering. This is how to make sure you can best produce your art for me, sweet Varsu, my songbird.” He cut the tendons in her ankles, in her thighs, until her legs became useless pieces of meat. Unable to walk, to run, to do much of anything but sing as loud as she could.

Recoiling from entering Xalin’s mind, Varsu tried to soothe it, the endless throbbing, the blurred vision, as if her head was stuck in a vise that kept on squeezing and squeezing far too tight. “I must have my Poetpup back or my collection won’t be complete.” Xalin muttered under his breath. “That Prince has taken too much from me. Songbird, sing me a song, let my sorrow out through your voice.” He was a wreck ever since Varsu informed him of the truth of what happened during the hunt. But he wasn’t the head of the Xanivarn family for nothing – and just because the Lunarians were so strong didn’t mean they were untouchable.

“Yes, master.” Varsu dutifully sang, because she did not want to risk losing her arms too, because she wanted to appear loyal too. “I’ll get my art back, I’ll keep the both of you with me forever.” The only hint Varsu had of her old self was that she cared much for a girl named Pariya as per Xalin’s memories of first capturing her. How did she know the name Pariya? How did she know Pariya and Xeni were one and the same? Most likely through the mind entering but those memories were wiped a long time ago. This girl who mattered so much to her – could Varsu regain some sense of self if she saved her from Thirteen?

If her plan worked, all the prisoners would go free.

Varsu needed to contact this Jake person she found in Pariya’s memories, no doubt a strong person like him would be the first bridge to connect to. The songbird closed her eyes as she sang, trying to focus in on the face of the iron-skinned man to begin concocting a plot. The consequences of overusing her powers were severe, irreversible, but she would do it if it meant escape. ”Jake. My name is Varsu, and if you listen to me, we can free you and your friends if you’re willing to bring me with you afterwards.”

Footnotes

"Why did you call me here, my Queen?" Thirteen inquired, one fist touching the ground. "I heard of the accident, is it not right that a Queen worry for her Prince?" Prince, not son, spawn she could pawn off in a political marriage. "Why did you really call me here, my Queen?"

"Eleven is concerned," how very much like her. "Your antics as of late, including cutting of your own pet's arm, have made me believe that you might be up to something."

"My pet's arm came off on its own, I had no hand in that matter." The Queen narrowed her eyes, "I have reason to believe you plot against Eleven."

"Do not lie to me!" His head jerked backwards, a vine had crept around his throat, choking him. "If you so much as try anything, I will throw you into the cellars with those human beasts and you will rot the same way your Father did."

Thirteen nodded, choking, the vine released him, color returned to his face. "Leave me," he clambered to his feet, rushing to the throne room doors.

Kyo sat on the windowsill, attempting to make shapes on paper with her left hand. They were rough, crude, barely tangible. She threw the paper away in frustration, hot tears burning in her eyes. Ruined, she was ruined, her one talent, gone. The arm in the sling had no feeling, it may as well have remained cut off. The doors burst open, a table was flipped. Kyo recoiled, hiding behind the curtains, fearing what Thirteen would do in his angry trance. The curtains were pushed open, he had found her. "What are you doing?" He asked, anger seething off of him, tangible in the air. "Nothing," Kyo whimpered, her ears turning down in fear. He strode forward, her fear melting away as he grew closer.

"You don't need to fear me, Kyo." He reached out, grabbing her, pulling her close. Her heart soared with his touch. These were tricks she knew, he was manipulating her emotions. Still, it felt good to be needed, to be wanted somewhere. "You don't need me anymore, I'm broken." She whispered and as much as she hated it, she knew it was true. "I will fix you," Thirteen grabbed the leash and attached it to the collar, forcing her out of the room. He led her down the hall, a set of confusing twists and turns until they reached a sterile hallway. "Stay here," he handed the leash to one of the guards at the door and went inside while the alien muttered about not being a babysitter. She waited, wondering why she was out here until the door opened once more and she was ushered inside.

Being a torso and head wasn't very fun. For the first day Pariya cried it away because she wasn't sure what to do. She was just useless, like always and Remi wasn't going to save her. This time she was alone. In fact, Remi had been gone for so long that it was very probably she was dead by now. Pariya once believed the world was beautiful, full of life and happiness, full of joy. But the cold truth was bearing down on her now more than ever. In a world where someone could cut you to pieces and leave you just barely alive is a world where someone amazing and perfect like Remi would die. "It doesn't matter." Pariya whispered to herself, voice tattered and torn, like a disgusting rotten croak as she lay there, unable to even move because of her demolished body.

"In this world it doesn't matter if a piece of flesh can scream and flail, none of it matters at all." Otherwise how could anyone allow this to happen? And Kiyo had it even worse, because she had potential, she could have been something. She wasn't like Pariya... she wasn't like Xeni, who was only good at making Remi worry. "If I was better, we could have got away. But I am bad and that's all there is to it." For a girl who's best quality was her sunny disposition and ability to see beauty, the happiness was cracking, leaving only a pathetic despair. All of a sudden Pariya's stupid head started to hurt even worse than before. She wriggled on the floor but wasn't able to soothe it. She was basically just a human worm, what good was she now? Why didn't Thirteen just finish her off?

"Hey."

Someone was in her cell. Who was it, who could it be? Pariya looked around but her eyes were no longer there, they were not in her head anymore, they had been scooped out and removed. Not that she knew it of course, so Pariya only saw the endless darkness and was confused. "It's me, Remi. I'm here. I'm talking to you now, do you know how?" How? Wasn't there only one possible way this could be happening? "Because you're dead?" She didn't want to say it but she knew it was true. Deep down her search for her sister was empty from the start because deep down she knew her sister no longer existed in this world. There would be no savior to help her again, no one to tap her arm when lost and scared in the dark.

"I'm dead, but you can still live. Jake has a plan, you just have to wait for him. He'll save you all and then the fun adventures to find the human settlement can start again." That's right. Pariya longed for those days so much, just wandering in the wild with her five friends, searching for a safe haven. Other than being back home with her family... that was the happiest she had ever been. Her heart bled for Romo, for Veronica, for Jake and Kiyoko. Not Eleven though, the traitor was evil and made Riya ashamed of ever having pink hair. "Just don't give up. I'm gone... but you can still be happy." The person left, Remi was gone for good now, to the afterlife. Pariya whimpered, then the sorrow of the past years overwhelmed her and only now was she able to mourn her dead sister and anchor.

Footnotes

Temor did strange things. He connected dots to the arm, making electrical impulses move through it. Her fingers twitched and she blinked in surprise. He told her to concentrate and so, Kyo shut her eyes and went into meditation mode, focusing on her fingers, on the hand that she so desperately wanted to move again. "There you go, that's it," Kyo opened up her eyes, hoping to see, but her pinkie thumb barely twitched. "It's going to take time," Temor smiled patiently. He gave her a pill to help nerve production and sent her back to Thirteen's care. The white haired alien took Kyo to the garden, a place that was familiar. Her blood had been spilled here before and she would be a fool to think that she was immune from it happening again. "Why did you do that? You could easily leave me like this, unable to run away." Kyo questioned, trying to sound hostile, but her tone took on a more meek inflection.

"Because, you can't be useful to me like this, can you?" Thirteen whirled around, an intense emotional desire to be next to him filling her. This is what he did, he manipulated her emotions, he cast doubt on everything she knew. "You want to be a useful pet, don't you?" He asked, tilting her chin upwards. "Yes!" Kyo cried, sounding much more desperate than she meant to. "Good, project yourself then." Kyo blinked, taking a step back. Project? Why? "Project yourself and tell me what Eleven is up to." Kyo swallowed hard, knowing that disobeying would mean being punished. "Come on!" He urged, snapping. Kyo nodded and in her fright, jumped out of her body, watching as her physical self slumped to the ground. Thirteen turned as she crumpled, he did not move to catch her. Still, that need filled her, that desire to be wanted.

Eleven, she had to go find Eleven. It was an easy enough task, one that only she could do. She drifted down the halls, floating between walls in her search. There! Eleven was sitting in what looked like a library, reading. Kyo twisted, searching for the title of the novel, but it wasn't in any language she could decipher. Knowing that she had done her due diligence, Kyo headed back to her body. Unexpectedly, she was pulled back faster than she thought. Thirteen had taken off her shoes and peeled off her socks, dumping them into the koi pond. He was using the blunt end of a knife to draw circles on the bottoms of her feet. There was no blood, there weren't even cuts, but still, it hurt. She cried out in pain as she sat up, wondering what she had done wrong.

"Faster next time." He grunted, pulling her forcefully upwards. "What is it you found?" He shoved his knife back into the sheath and waited for her to deliver news. "She was in the library, reading. I think it was a book on flowers, judging by the pictures." He narrowed his eyes, this was useless information, but he seemed satisfied for the time being. "I'll allow it," he muttered, turning his head. "Come, let's go see that human who idiotically tried to take you from me."

Footsteps descending, someone was coming, two people. All cried out, Pariya felt numb now. She failed Remi, but there was still a small chance. If only Jake could accomplish the plan then it would be a heroic escape for them. Not that Jake or Romo or even Kiyo would care for her like this, being just a human stick with no arms or legs or eyes. Where were her limbs? Probably dissected and eaten by the aliens by now. It would be nice to at least have clothes but that was a luxury for good people and Pariya knew better than to consider herself that now.

It’ll be okay. Jake has a plan, doesn’t he? As long as Pariya held on, she could maybe explore the world again with her friends. It would be an okay life, she could settle for that much at least. It would be nice if Varsu could come too, the poor girl was trapped on a chair and forced to sing all day. She could join the family too!

Pariya was snapped out of her thoughts when the door opened, creaking, to reveal evil footsteps. She knew it was evil because these footsteps belonged only to one person. "Evil!” She declared to Thirteen. "You’re an evil and I don’t care!” Once she recovered her energy, the joke would all be on them since she’d be able to activate her wings and fly away. "Only evils take my friends from me.” Before Remi left she told Pariya one important thing. Kiyo was being turned into a pet by the evil Thirteen.

Pariya was not okay with that. It was bad enough she was turned into a meat log, but Kiyo deserved freedom because she was so wonderful! "So let her go! Or you’ll be an evil! A bad who deserves no forgiveness!” If Pariya remembered one thing from the old days it was that all those who believed the had power to stomp over others would eventually lose it. That was the history of the world thus far, governments toppling over, new regimes replacing the old. "Humans will win and you’ll be made into a log too!”

She grinned then as she ranted in desperation to try to make the Evil go away and leave her alone because she did not want to lose her tongue too. "And Jake has a plan! And the plan will make you lose and we will be free! Hah! Ask for forgiveness before it’s too late!”

Oh, Pariya, always so stupid.

"Good to know, you idiotic human." The Evil was speaking and Pariya wished she had eyes so she could glare at the filth. "Now let's stop your yapping, ornaments are to be seen and not heard." Her tongue was pried out of her mouth and something sharp was pressed against it. Pariya tried to yell more but it was hard to speak with your tongue being held. Little did she know it was a bluff to see Kiyo's reaction, to see her obedience. The truth was the Evil didn't think anything of her at all, she was nothing but a fly on the wall.

Footnotes

The smell coming from the hallway made her sick. This was not a good place, Kyo could tell that much as soon as they stepped through the threshold. The prison was modern, with bright lights and floors that smelled as though they had to be scrubbed clean of blood. Kyo swallowed hard, following behind Thirteen, her ears pressed flat against her head so that the sound of harrowing screams would not bug her. Why was Pariya in a place like this? Was it because she had tried to kill Thirteen? "Are you scared?" Thirteen asked, glancing back at her. Kyo shook her head, swallowing hard. "I'm not scared," she mumbled in a lie. Thirteen grabbed onto her, but not roughly. He led her by her elbow, to a locked door. Kyo waited as the bio signature recognized him. The two of them descended a staircase, a light flickering brightly above them.

The room smelled even worse than the hallway. Kyo could hear Pariya before she saw her and when her eyes descended on the form of her friend she gasped in horror. "What did you do to her?!" Kyo attempted to run forward, but Thirteen grabbed her and pulled her back. He pulled out his knife and knelt down as Pariya screamed obscenities. "Stop! What are you doing!" Kyo grabbed him, but Thirteen pulled Pariya's tongue out of her mouth and held his knife against it. "No! Stop! She'll die if you do that!" Thirteen wasn't listening, anger rippled off of him.

Why would he do this? Kyo didn't understand. "Stop it!" She screamed and the world spun, Kyo exited not only her body, but had pulled Thirteen out of his. Kyo blinked and it ended just as soon as it had started. Thirteen was back in his body, her grasp on him had slipped in her surprise. How did she do that? Kyo looked down at her hands. She was still next to her real body, slumped on the ground. Thirteen rose and returned his knife to his pocket. Kyo returned to her human form, wondering what she had just done. "Fix this mess," Thirteen said to the guard on their way out, gesturing to Pariya's form. "It's no fun playing with a stump." The guard nodded and saluted as Thirteen led Kyo out by the front of her dress. "Thirteen," Kyo squeaked. "Master?"

"Have more confidence in yourself." His words were a shock, "You aren't... mad?" They stopped at the end of the hallway. His arms wrapped around her, Eleven was passing by, staring at them strangely as he stroked her hair. "You're going to be a very good tool to me, Kyo, my pet." He whispered, watching Eleven as she passed him, entering the prison ward.

"You really shouldn't fall for the tricks, you know." Varsu said, as she was currently residing inside of Kyo's head. The plan was in motion, it wouldn't be long until they were ready to proceed. It all relied on Jake and Romo to fulfill their part of the plan - and both of the boys already agreed to it too. "He doesn't actually care for you, you know?" Varsu knew because while she couldn't go inside his head, she could go deep enough to know he cared not for Kiyo, but for a pet he could dominate and use as a tool. The plan needed Kiyoko with them and able to willingly leave the prince, since prying her from his grasp would be the hardest part of the mission. "You know there's a plan, didn't I tell you already?"

If all went well, Thirteen would no longer be a threat to them. However Varsu - well, wouldn't she be a burden on the outside? Here she was useful as she didn't need to physically move. Her legs had long since been ruined, she would never walk again even with the highest technology the aliens had. The only way to ever be free again would be by someone else carrying her around from now on. Even so, it would be worth it. To see the sun again, to be free again, to not have to sing again... if only that day could come. Well, with the new prisoners, Varsu would made sure that day would come. "Just hold on, and then we'll all be free." She told Kiyo. The migraines were pulsing, she could hardly breathe, she must have overused her powers. But if it was to save this Pariya who her past self so needed to, then it was worth it.

...

"Oh look! It's the mountain with many heads!"

Pariya pointed, jumping excitedly with joy. After leaving the lighthouse they finally found it, they found the area of the next clue! What would be waiting for them here, oh she was so excited to find out! "I'm surprised Mt. Rushmore is still around." Jake chuckled, gently nudging Kiki with his elbow. "It's almost nice to see ghosts of the old world." Kiki nodded, ears flopping around. "I already checked." She said with a soft smile. "There's no aliens here, we're safe." Romo and Pariya shared a conspiratorial smile - fellow escapees of the Survivalists, they were still together and still going strong. "Well, guess we better start looking." Romo decided, and Veronica followed his lead dutifully, sniffing around for a clue.

"I'm so happy! We get to have another adventure!" Pariya hugged all of her friends, secretly hoping they would never have to stop adventuring as a family.

"How is the prisoner?" Eleven asked the guard once he finished working on the drugged up Pariya. The guard shrugged - it was cleaned up at least. "She should have functionality returned to her, though her nerves will have to regrow and she may forget how to walk." The alien guard didn't seem to care all that much though. "Is there a reason you asked, miss?" Eleven regarded Pariya with emotionless eyes. "She has a peculiar mutation, it would be a shame if it was wasted by killing her." In any case, it was time to start speaking to the prisoners.

Footnotes

Kyo's ears twitched as they walked, Thirteen leading her by the front of her dress. She could hear Varsu's voice in her head and knew her words to be true. Kyo could not think about that though, for every time she had an emotion that was on her own, Thirteen warped it. She wanted to be near him, she never wanted to leave his side, she'd rather be dead than be taken away. Kyo was his pet, faithful, loyal. The effects of his empathy manipulation were powerful and could take days to wear off. "We'll take dinner in my room tonight, the Queen is busy preparing the army to reinforce the stronghold." Kyo nodded along, she didn't care, she just wanted to hear him talk.

"Thirteen, were you really going to cut out her tongue?"

"No Kyo, it was a test and you passed." They entered his corridors, dinner was already spread out on the table. Kyo was ravenous, she had skipped lunch out of sheer protest but now she was feeling the effects. She sat down across from Thirteen and dug right in, the food as good as she remembered. Yes, as long as she stayed here she would be alright. Thirteen needed her, she was useless otherwise. Her astral projection could only be of so much use outside of these walls. He watched her as she ate with vim and vigor. "Tomorrow you're going to see Temor again, he says you made good progress today." She wiped her mouth on a napkin, having to use one hand for everything. "My fingers were twitching," Kyo spoke proudly, her tail swishing.

"I couldn't feel them, but I could see it." Thirteen nodded, ever the Prince as he consumed his food. "Good, you'll be much more useful once you're whole." Not many knew this, but it was Thirteen that had honed her skill with the bow. Her aim was always true, they had spent many nights in the garden until the Queen had collected Kyo as part of her experiments. They had realized Kyo's usefulness, but could never unlock her potential. Therefore, she was allowed to remain in Thirteen's possession, who could hopefully bring out the gift within. She could be strong, perhaps as strong as Pariya or Jake, if only anyone knew how her ability worked.

"I had the help draw you a bath," Thirteen rose, "I must go meet with someone. Clean yourself up and go to bed," Kyo nodded, watching as he left. She rose from the table and went to the bathroom, scrubbing herself and putting on a pair of warm pajamas. Her bed was on the floor, in that curtained partition, it was cushy, but small and as soon as her head hit the pillow, Kyo found that she was drifting off to sleep.

Pariya watched with her blurry eyes as Eleven stood there. She was talking about something but Pariya decided she just didn't care. Eleven was a traitor. Sure, she was better now, her limbs reattached, eyes trying to see again but her nerves were shot so it wans't as if she could move yet. No doubt once she regained feeling Eleven would be the next one to torture her. both Eleven and Thirteen were True Evil, that was what Pariya decided. "You killed her, didn't you?" Pariya whispered to Eleven, the evil pink haired alien. Once upon a time they could have bonded over their mutual pink hair. But now? Eleven looked at her coolly but didn't answer. "You killed my little sister! Remi's super nice so I bet you made friends with her and made her trust you..."

The pinkette whimpered, trying to get the image out of her head. No! This was not the time to be sad! She had to stay strong, and to be strong it would help if she could stay mad. Varsu needed her to be strong so that the plan would work! So Pariya would stay mad and the perfect reason to be mad was here. Eleven was the one who sold them out after they so happily welcomed her in. How was anyone supposed to forgive an evil person like her? "We let you friend us and as thanks we're all being hurt now." Pariya's voice was faint, but more than enough to be hurt. "Veronica's being cut to pieces to be used as meat! Romo has to feel her pain and cries because of the connection! Jake gets his iron skin tested by the Queen every day to try to break through and hurt him!" And the worst of all was Kiki's fate. "And you sold Kiki to the Evil Thirteen! He's probably violating her body right now because of you!" But Eleven was an evil, and evils don't know what guilt is or anything.

"I was so excited just to have a new friend..."

Evil is as evil does, and Eleven was the reason why the happy days are over. She killed Remi for sure! She lead the aliens to capture them without a second thought! Pariya wasn't going to open her heart to anyone outside of her family again.

Everything felt sluggish, but it was almost time now. It was the middle of the night and Jake confirmed he was about ready to begin, so Varsu had to do her part. She flitted to Eleven's head, who welcomed her in. "It's about to start." Varsu reported to Eleven, who helped her plan everything from the start. "Veronica's finding a hovercraft for escape, and Jake's reporting all that I told him about Thirteen's actions from watching through Kiki's eyes." Varsu even made sure Jake had evidence, by having Xalin send proof to Jake for the purpose of reporting and selling him out to the Queen.

But there was still something else that must be done. The best way to destabilize someone with passionate possessive needs is to take that away fro them. So Varsu entered Kiki's mind, feeling guilt the entire time. She was almost afraid to return to her body because who knew what she might have lost from completely overusing her power this past week. Still, this was the only choice. "It's time, Kiki. It won't hurt, I promise. I just have to...." With a burst of effort Varsu shut down the sleeping Kiki's mind, locking it away from her body for the time being. This way Thirteen wouldn't be able to use Kiki against the escape party.

Now it was all up to Eleven to make sure the rest of the plan succeeds. Was it foolish to trust an alien? Yes, of course it was. But they didn't have any other choice, not with how dire things had become. "Sorry, Kiyoko." Varsu said quietly to herself, all of her senses going out of whack due to the overuse. "Have sweet dreams."

Footnotes

Thirteen returned to his room, parting the curtain to check on his pet. She was fast asleep, not so much as twitching. Good, he was glad she was getting some rest because tomorrow he was going to put his plan in motion. He would make his first move against Eleven, plant a seed of doubt in her mind that would allow him the upper field. Thirteen lay flat on his bed, his eyes drifting shut. He was a light sleeper, unlike his pet, who dozed peacefully in a deep sleep. "I nearly forgot," Thirteen rose from the mattress and exited the room once more, he had something he needed to do that he had nearly forgotten about and that was to lock up that pink haired mutant so Xalin could never find her again. He needed to believe she was dead, after all, just like Xalia.

"I'm sorry Pariya, I don't know who your sister is." Or was, if Pariya's words were of any indication. Eleven lifted up the human whose nerves were still connecting one by one, in order to take her to the escape vehicle. Eleven would not be going with them, she would be staying here in order to succeed the throne and put her mother out of her misery. Eleven covered Pariya in a blanket and carried her on her back, heading to the meeting point where she would pass Jake the keys to Thirteen's personal appointment. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Jake asked quietly, taking the bio scanner that would forge Thirteen's signature. Jake wasn't confident in her despite the fact that she was significantly stronger than him. "I am certain," Eleven handed Pariya off to Romo. "She cannot see well or feel much, but she is whole once more. Good luck on your mission." Jake nodded and ran off to go find his friend.

If all went according to plan, Thirteen should be in the library, meeting an acquaintance. Jake used the bio pad to enter his room, finding Kyo asleep on the floor, as still as a corpse. He knelt down, noticing the new scars, the bumps, and the bruises. His hands balled into fists, Thirteen would pay. Not today because he didn't have the time, but soon. Jake lifted Kyo easily and took along some of her things with him, the sketch pad and a warm looking coat namely. By now, Romo should be at their escape vehicle with Pariya and Victoria, all Jake had to do was find them.

The door knob turned, his heart jumped into his throat. He sat Kyo down and ran to hide, rolling underneath the bed. "Pieces fall into place," Thirteen uttered as the door closed behind him. He checked on Kyo once more, finding that she had kicked the blankets off in her rest. Thirteen tucked it tightly in around her, the temperatures sometimes dropped in these places at night, no need to have his tool catch a cold. He went to slide into bed, unaware of the fact that there was someone sleeping under him, having closed off his emotions to make himself undetectable. Eleven had warned him, it was the only way to keep Thirteen off of his tail.

How could Eleven think she could talk like this? How could Eleven think she had the right to say anything to her? Pariya ignored the tingling, true anger in her eyes, rare for a girl as upbeat as she always was. Though her vision was blurry and vague, she knew that pink hair anywhere. "Remi is my sister, and I know she's dead. She told me." And in this world, it was the aliens who were the villains here. They came and attacked, they ruined everything, what was once beautiful was -

Humans killing one another in wars decided by men in suitshumans selling each other into slavery for profit and funhumans killing themselves because the despair has become too muchanimals hunted to extinction for the rarest pelts and hidesforests become deserts as humans slaughter the trees

Aah, that's right. This world has never truly been beautiful, has it? Because humans walked the earth, it was always a cruel and terrible place. Pariya's eyes grew dim, the sparkle burning out and she hung there, limp, as Eleven lifted her up. Was this is then? Was this how Pariya would go and see Remi again? Would she be put to rest? As much as she had a drive to live, there was something intoxicatingly nice about the idea of peace. It would be nice if everyone could be at peace too. "Take me to Remi, kill me like you did her." The sticky-haired pinkette croaked, allowing Eleven to deliver her to her fate. No goodbyes to Kiki, to Jake, to Romo or Veronica. They would just have to carry on without her and see the human sanctuary for her.

And then she found herself hearing familiar voices again. Was this Heaven? Was this the afterlife? But she didn't even remember being killed! "No, you're not dead." Romo hugged her close as Veronica pawed at her legs. Jake patted her on the head. "Welcome back, Pariya. I'll get Kiyo and then we'll be out of here." Pariya felt dull surprise, still shooting a glare at Eleven's way. "If it wasn't for her none of this would even be happening." Just because Eleven for some reason saved them didn't mean that it wasn't Eleven's fault in the first place. "We'll never ever be friends!" Jake went off to go and find Kiki, the last member of their family.

"I'm glad you're here and alive, Riya." Romo always had been a calming presence for Pariya. He helped keep her together for as long as she could remember. "It was hard, but you did well. We'll see the happy future together with all of our friends." Pariya nodded, not sure if she believed in that naive wish anymore. "Remi's dead. So I'll have to see it for her." She would need a new purpose in life and was it to bad to want to revolve it around her new family? "And we'll be with you too." Romo told her as Veronica begged for pats, tail swishing. "Riya? What about the Varsu girl? She helped keep us all in the loop, I think we should save her too."

Pariya nodded firmly. "Then let's fly to the Xanivarn mansion after Jake and Kiki get back so we can bring her with us!"

Footnotes

Eleven did not need friends, she did not need allies in this world. She had been set upon this plane to take fate into her own hands. The only bonds that Eleven needed were strong allegiances that could help her see her goal through. "I do not need your friendship," Eleven meant to sound harsh, but her words were soft, perhaps even lonely. The alien Princess handed the child off to her friends, who greeted Pariya warmly. Eleven would stand guard until Jake returned with Kiyo, who would hopefully be swift in this endeavor. She had told Jake the secret to closing himself off to Thirteen and that was to feel nothing. If even the smallest bit of emotion came through, Thirteen could harness it and use it against you and he would not hesitate to kill anyone that got in his way.

Jake held his breath as Thirteen walked out the door to take care of something or another. He clambered out from underneath the bed and grabbed Kiyo, something crunching beneath his foot. Papers, dozens of them. He gathered Kiyo in his arms, attempting to leave the space the way he had found it. He poked his head outside the door, checking that the coast was clear before he tip toed down the hall. Once reaching the end, Jake sprinted, noting that the halls were awfully empty. Where were the guards? Had Eleven taken them out before they had gotten there? Why was she helping them? Especially since she was the one that had caught them in the first place. Unless she had done it to prove a point and was helping them leave because it had been made? Jake swallowed hard, they had been used again.

"I got her," he slowed as they neared their escape vehicle. Eleven was waiting, guarding the vehicle. He remembered her power, the strange ability to move things without ever touching or even looking at them. He had no idea what to call such a thing. "Thank you," credit was given where credit was due. Eleven nodded as Jake set Kiyo down on one of the rows of the car. He had never driven a vehicle quite like this, but the basic foundation was the same, he would figure it out. "Everyone ready?" Jake asked as he popped into the driver's seat. "Let's get the hell out of dodge!" He hit the gas and headed towards the gate, ready to go. They sped off, kicking up dust as they fled the castle, making a clean getaway thanks to Eleven. Jake checked the rear view mirror for her pink form, but she was already gone.

"So, now we go save this Varsu kid, right?" Jake asked, glancing at them. Victoria howled in agreement, tail wagging, profoundly happy, now that she was back with her friend, Romo. "I don't speak hound, but I'll take that as a yes." Jake shifted the stick, kicking the car into high gear. They sped down the dark road, heading towards destiny.

Pariya was almost weeping by the time Jake and Kiyo finally made it back, both of them safe and sound. She did not want to have to lose anyone else, she was so tired of losing people she cared about. "Now we have to save Varsu, because she's helped us!" Jake took the wheel, they were now on their way to meet their fates in the dark of the night. They were eager to get back on the road to find the remains of humanity, but Varsu needed to be saved first. Pariya was able to direct the party towards the Xanivarn mansion, as it was where she had stayed during their time as pets of the aliens. "Xalin's not evil." Pariya assured them - there was no need to kill him. "He helped too in getting us free." It was he who set Jake and Romo loose at Varsu's prompting.

"If you love her set her free." Varsu said as she sat on her stool, useless legs attached by the ankles to the legs of the stool. Xalin was standing protective in front of her, the alien ruler who had lost his sister, and one of his beloved pets in just one day. "Eleven knows what I did, so it is not safe for me here." It was just a matter of time until the Queen realized one of the more powerful mutants of all. Still, Xalin seemed reluctant. "I'm going to be alone again." He murmured, holding his arms to his self. Pariya locked eyes with the alien who wiped her mind and wiped Varsu's as well. "Why? Can't Varsu just go into your head and visit you sometime?" The answer to this problem was just so obvious, why couldn't anyone see it? And with that obvious solution Xalin gave them his blessings. Of course, Varsu unlocked Kiyo's mind and allowed her to wake up again after both she and Xalin wiped Thirteen's influence from her mind.

After being given supplies and weapons for the trip, it was time for the team to go back to the road. Romo even discovered that Veronica could be Varsu's wheelchair for now since the girl could not walk. They were all tired and weary from their trials, from Jake being experimented on, Veronica being chopped up as food, Romo being starved and deprived of light and movement, Pariya and her jumbled mind, Kiyo being used as a pet against her will. "There it is." Romo said, pointing them at it. Mount Rushmore remained perfectly intact. "The last clue is here. Follow the heart and you'll find paradise." Varsu smiled a little and with Romo they were able to find the answer.

All the clues Romo and Pariya had been following lead them in the shape of a heart .So together the two geniuses solved the riddle in near seconds. "We'll go to the center, and the sanctuary will be there." They were so close now, just one final step until they could be safe from it all. The pinkette shuffled herself next to Kiyo, feeling both exhausted and exhilarated. She was ready to settle down and not have to be afraid anymore. "One more day of travel and we'll be there." She whispered to Kiyo. "How are you doing? Are you excited?" It was hard to be excited about things anymore, but Riya had no choice.

Footnotes

Kyo was not herself for the first few days. She walked around in a daze, silent for the most part, staring up at the sky, except when they were in the car, then she stared at her lap. This was normal, according to Xalin, who they had contacted frantically, wondering if too much had been erased. Slowly, she came back to herself, whole for the most part. Her arm was still gone, useless attached to her side, but Kyo was willing to accept it as another loss. She kept it in the sling so that it wasn't just dead weight and began training herself to use her other hand. It was clumsy and slow going of course, but Kyo was getting used to it. When they weren't driving and admiring the scenery, Kyo spent much time in meditation, projecting herself onto the astral plane.

One more day of travel, then they would join the human settlement, they would be safe. Kyo couldn't wait, she eagerly tried to solve the clue with the others, but was once again proving her uselessness. Thankfully, Romo and Varsu figured the puzzle out rather quickly and they were on their way once again. The shape of a heart, who would have thought? Kyo looked up at the sky, wondering if it would look different once they were safe. She had lost everything, she was almost afraid of gaining anything. "I'm alright," Kyo's smile was soft when Pariya asked her the question. She looked down at her bare feet, dirty and caked with mud from their trek up Mt. Rushmore, the fourth head containing that juicy secret.

Jake ran towards them, grinning. Kyo's cheeks heated up and she looked away, mumbling something incoherent and kicking the dirt. "One day more, it feels like destiny." Jake admitted, scratching his cheek. "Do you think we'll finally get a full night of sleep?" It was a joke of course, considering it was hard for any of them to sleep while on watch for mutated animals, aliens, and looters. "I just want to change clothes, to be honest." Kyo was still wearing her nightgown from the night they escaped and the only shower she had gotten was when it rained and she stood outside of the van, tasting the droplets that fell from the sky.

Hidden in a forest of fog, a sleepy nearly magically sealed town awaited them. "Welcome to Paradise." The gatekeepers told them as they were invited in. "You fought hard to make it this far, didn't you?"

This city was created, a sanctuary made for them by humans who stole alien technology, to create a place that was impossible to find unless you were welcomed in. Maybe one day the aliens could break through and find them but it would take many, many years until that would become a reality. As some of the rare few outsiders to survive the journey to Paradise, they were given a few houses as options but in the end decided to all live together. Of course it would be hard - Paradise wasn't exactly paradise. It was safety, but every household still needed to work and contribute to help keep it safe and running and strong. The Mayor, while nice, wasn't going to let anyone get in her way, the mayor's job was to do whatever it took to keep Paradise safe and secret at all costs.

Time went on, of course. It took some time but eventually people began adjusting. Romo took to working the fields with Veronica, both of them more than happy to be farmers. Varsu was trying to think to the future of the settlement, and decided to try to bring people together in order to create an educational program so that the next generation of children would be able to carry on the duties and jobs of those who came before them. Pariya focused on her poetry, wanting to help give people a distraction from the pain and sorrow of every day. Eventually Pariya was so good at her poetry that she was able to turn it into a performance art, doing spontaneous poetry battles against others. Another word for it could be called a rap battle. Clearly a career full of competition and drama for poor Pariya.

"I hope my dream will come true." Pariya now had medicine for her seizures and they could be minimized as long as she kept on them. She was waiting with Kiyo now for Varsu to come home from another curriculum planning meeting. Of course courses would be different - rather than math or literature classes would be more practical, like farming or medicine or even military strategy. "Do you remember? My dream is to make a poem from your art?" It had been a whole year since they had arrived in Paradise and Pariya still could hardly remember if Kiki had gone back to art or not - she'd been so wrapped up in her own life and all the changes going on that it was hard to pay attention. "I'll be happy to be inspired by your drawings!"

She went quiet, thinking. "It's becoming obvious now. Even though she's so changed..." A truth she had painfully been forced to accept last year was that her dear sister, Remi, had died. But despite that, Varsu had a lot of the same markings her sister once did. The same scar on her finger from catching a sharp rock being thrown at Xeni, a faint discoloring on her left elbow, it was too coincidental. "I think Varsu is Remi." Of course Kiki was the only one Pariya could discuss this with. Varsu had given up on finding her old self, she didn't want to try to unearth the memories.

She was happy with who she was now.

But that meant Pariya couldn't force her to remember, either. It wasn't fair - Remi had always looked after her, and now that she was happy doing her own thing, Pariya would be the one to look after her now. "I'll choose to believe it's her." That was the best she would get, wasn't it? "...And are you ever going to answer Jake's confession?" It had been a week since Jake gave her the ring, in the middle of their Anniversary of Paradise arrival. "He won't wait forever, y'know."

Footnotes

Paradise was exactly what she had always wanted, a stable home. Kyo closed her eyes and breathed in deep, it felt like a dream, to arrive on a farmland where they would be safe at last. She and Jake had been roomed together, all men and women of age paired up to encourage things, although it was never forced. "It's so strange, to be at peace." Jake of course, was given guard duty and Kyo, considered incapacitated because of her arm, wasn't allowed to do much. She tried to contribute as best as she could, but spent most of her time attempting to rehabilitate her arm. There were plenty of tears until finally, she could grasp a pencil without it falling. Then, she could write her name in chicken scratch. Slowly, day by day, her arm and its function improved. She celebrated every step and almost six months later, Kyo completed her first drawing.

They were all hard at work to become part of the community, despite her reclusive tendencies, the other women invited Kyo to do things with them. She looked around for Pariya and Varsu, like she always did, but it seemed that everyone was busy with their own lives. That was alright, it was good that they forge bonds in their new community. While the other ladies birthed babies and did laundry, Kyo would sit in the fields and draw. No one bothered her much, some thought her to be unstable because of her time spent as Thirteen's pet and others avoided her completely. Children loved Kyo though, they would pet her ears and tug on her tail, wanting her to play with them.

One night, while eating dinner with everyone, Jake had gotten down on one knee and pulled out a ring he had forged himself. Kyo blushed something mighty and told him she had to think about it. After all, living together was one thing, stolen kisses and holding hands, but Kyo was barely eighteen! Still, she had taken the ring. Even now, she wore it on a chain around her neck, the sensation bothersome on her fingers. Could she really accept this? Could she be Jake's wife? They had both lost so much, Jake his fiance, Kyo her family. Today, Kyo stood in Pariya's kitchen, Romo and Veronica off doing their tasks. She stared at the ring, a pencil and paper waiting on the dining room table. "I'm sure your dreams will all come true," Kyo's smile was gentle. The flowers outside the house were as tall as the windowsill and their colors were mottled beautifully. Kyo sat down and began to draw, knowing it was the only thing she could do to clear her head.

She looked up when Pariya asked her the question, if she believed that Remi and Varsu were one in the same. "It could be," Kyo whispered. "I think it would be best to leave that question unanswered though." Yes, for all intents and purposes, Remi was dead. "Here," Kyo pushed the piece of paper in Pariya's direction. "Art, for your poems." A picture, a simple one, of all of them, smiling.

At Pariya's prodding, Kyo looked down at the ring. "I think I finally know the answer. I'm sorry Pariya, I have to go." Kyo opened the door and ran outside, the grass cold underneath her bare feet. Kyo headed for the fence, tears springing to her eyes. "Jake!" She called upon seeing the outline of his muscular form. "Kyo! Kyo? What's wrong?" The green haired girl slowed to a stop, nearly crashing into him. She breathed hard, Jake rubbing her back until she could stand up once more.

"I've made my decision." She clutched the ring in one hand, so tightly a mark would be left on her palm. "I will marry you."